Since 2003, Baghdad has stood at the centre of some of the region’s most significant challenges and geopolitical shifts. Yet through it all, the city has quietly continued to reclaim its place as a centre for dialogue, ideas and engagement.
Today, as Iraq strengthens its regional and international role, Baghdad is once again becoming a place where leaders, policymakers and experts come together to shape conversations that matter.
The Baghdad International Dialogue (BID) not only reflects that evolution, it is helping to drive it by championing preventive diplomacy and regional cooperation.
Now entering its eighth edition, the Dialogue has grown alongside Iraq’s changing role in the region. It was established with a simple but ambitious purpose: to create a trusted platform where leaders, policymakers, researchers, business leaders and civil society can exchange ideas, build relationships and explore practical solutions to shared challenges.
Our focus is clear: unlocking opportunities for Iraq and the region through dialogue and partnership.
Dialogue is not an end in itself. It is a tool. One that builds trust, strengthens relationships and creates the conditions in which meaningful cooperation becomes possible. At a time of rapid geopolitical change, these conversations are not optional, they are essential to building long-term stability, resilience and shared prosperity.
The 8th Baghdad International Dialogue, taking place on 21–22 August 2026, continues that mission under the theme:
“100 Days Since the Formation of Iraq’s Ninth Government: From Crisis Management to Strategic Partnerships.”
This year’s programme will explore Iraq’s national priorities during the first 100 days of the new government, alongside the country’s evolving regional role and the strategic partnerships needed to strengthen security, expand economic cooperation and support sustainable development.
By bringing together voices from Iraq, the region and the international community, the Dialogue provides a space where different perspectives can be heard, assumptions challenged and new partnerships formed.
As regional relationships continue to evolve, Baghdad is once again demonstrating its ability to convene conversations that matter not only for Iraq, but for the region and beyond.
